As Nigeria edges closer to the decisive 2027 general elections, the political temperature is rising, alliances are shifting, and ambitions are sharpening.
Yet amid the familiar noise of partisan battles and personal calculations, one political choice in Delta State stands out for its maturity and long-term significance: Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s decision to support Governor Sheriff Oborevwori beyond personal aggrandizement.
In a political culture often defined by zero-sum rivalry, Omo-Agege’s posture offers a compelling case study in statesmanship, one that leaders across Nigeria’s political spectrum would do well to emulate.
At its core, democracy is not merely about winning elections; it is about governance, continuity, and the collective good.
Omo-Agege, a former Deputy Senate President and a leading figure in the APC, then in opposition and now a major political force, clearly understands this distinction.
Rather than allowing partisan bitterness to dictate his actions, he has chosen a path anchored in pragmatism and responsibility: supporting a sitting governor whose policies and performance he considers beneficial to Delta State.
This is not a surrender of ideology, but a recognition that governance outcomes matter more than party labels.
For decades, Nigerian politics has suffered from a destructive winner-takes-all mentality.
Once elections are concluded, opposition figures are often expected to obstruct, oppose, and undermine, sometimes at the expense of development itself.
Projects are stalled, policies reversed, and progress sacrificed on the altar of political vendetta. Omo-Agege’s support for Oborevwori challenges this norm.
It sends a powerful message that political competition should end at the ballot, while governance should begin with cooperation.
This approach is particularly significant as the 2027 elections approach.
Pre-election periods in Nigeria are notorious for heightened tensions, defections driven by personal gain, and alliances formed purely for electoral arithmetic.
Against this backdrop, Omo-Agege’s stance appears refreshingly principled.
By placing Delta State’s stability and progress above partisan calculations, he is redefining what opposition leadership can look like in a maturing democracy.
Governor Oborevwori’s administration, like any other, is not beyond criticism.
However, constructive criticism thrives better in an environment of mutual respect than in one of hostility.
Omo-Agege’s support does not silence accountability; rather, it strengthens it by creating room for dialogue.
When experienced leaders collaborate across party lines, sometimes within sane party, governance benefits from a diversity of ideas, institutional memory, and policy expertise.
The result is often more balanced decision-making and policies that reflect broader consensus.
There is also a deeper strategic lesson here for leaders from other political parties. Politics is ultimately about relevance and legacy.
By aligning himself with the broader developmental goals of Delta State, Omo-Agege is positioning himself as a statesman rather than a perpetual contestant.
History tends to be kinder to leaders who build bridges than to those who burn them.
Long after campaign slogans fade, what remains are roads built, institutions strengthened, and lives improved.
Supporting effective governance, even when it emerges from a rival party, is a legacy-defining choice.
Moreover, Omo-Agege’s action speaks to a growing public demand for issue-based politics.
Nigerian voters, especially young people, are increasingly disillusioned with endless political bickering that yields little tangible benefit.
They want leaders who can rise above ego and party loyalty to deliver results.
Cross-party support rooted in performance, not patronage, resonates strongly with this emerging political consciousness.
It reassures citizens that their leaders can put the country and state above themselves.
For other political leaders across Nigeria, the lesson is clear. Emulating Omo-Agege does not mean abandoning opposition or dissolving party structures.
It means redefining opposition as constructive, patriotic, and development-oriented. It means recognizing that democracy is strengthened, not weakened, when leaders collaborate for the common good.
It means understanding that supporting a rival’s good policies does not diminish one’s political standing, it elevates it.
As 2027 draws nearer, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The country can either relapse into familiar patterns of divisive politics or take bold steps toward a more cooperative democratic culture.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s support for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori offers a roadmap for the latter. It is a reminder that leadership is not about who wins the next election alone, but about who helps build a system that works for all.
If more leaders across political parties adopt this mindset, Nigeria’s democracy will not only survive, it will mature.
And in that maturity lies the promise of sustainable development, political stability, and renewed public trust.
A Call To Delta’s Political Leadership
The moment calls for introspection, particularly within the APC, but also across other political parties operating in Delta State.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has demonstrated that political leadership can rise above factionalism, ego, and narrow calculations. His approach should not stand alone.
Other APC leaders in Delta State must recognise that internal rivalries, proxy wars, and endless positioning for 2027 will not strengthen the party nor endear it to the electorate.
On the contrary, persistent internal discord has historically weakened opposition structures in the state, turning viable platforms into revolving doors for ambition rather than vehicles for governance.
Emulating Omo-Agege’s style does not require abandoning party ideology or silencing dissent. It requires discipline, strategic restraint, and an understanding that opposition politics is most effective when it is coherent, responsible, and visibly aligned with the broader interest of the state.
Supporting policies and programmes that benefit Deltans, regardless of party origin, should be seen as political maturity, not weakness.
This call also extends beyond the APC.
Leaders in other political parties must equally resist the temptation to inflame divisions for short-term advantage.
Delta State’s development challenges, economic diversification, infrastructure deficits, youth unemployment, and social stability, demand cooperation among political elites, not perpetual confrontation.
Delta politics has reached a stage where the electorate is watching closely.
Voters are increasingly discerning, less tolerant of performative opposition, and more interested in results than rhetoric.
Political actors who continue to prioritise personal relevance over collective progress risk being outpaced by public sentiment.
The path charted by Omo-Agege offers a workable model: competitive politics balanced by constructive engagement, ambition moderated by responsibility, and party loyalty anchored in state interest.
If more leaders, within the APC and across other parties, adopt this approach, Delta State stands to gain a more stable political environment and a stronger foundation for sustainable development.
As Delta State navigates the complex road to 2027, the true contest should not be who outmanoeuvres whom, but who contributes most meaningfully to the progress of the state.
That is the standard to which all political leaders must now be held
